A Brief Chat With Alan Culpepper

Alan Culpepper, 35, is a tenacious competitor. His proven track record makes him one of the most dangerous underplayed characters in the filed. Earlier this year he won the US Cross-Country Championships, in his hometown of Boulder. He finished 12th at the 2004 Olympics, and is the reigning Olympic Trials victor from Birmingham 2004.

This year he refrained from running a Spring marathon honing his entire year upon this one race. A stellar 27:50 10,000m run in the early summer proved he has the gears necessary to move into a position to take him to Beijing. This August he placed sixth at the NYC Half Marathon and qualified for the trials by running a 2:11:02 when placing fifth at the 2005 Boston Marathon.

Runner's World Online: Let's go back three years. You have just crossed the line in 12th place at Athens, what were you thinking, did you think then about another chance at Beijing?Alan Culpepper: Of course I was very happy, but I did want more. Being with Meb those last few weeks, seeing how he was not just happy to be there and wanted a top three taught me a lot. It was a mindset, he has a way of thinking, and that helped me the following year, in my next marathon, get fourth at Boston.

RW: Tell us why you did not run a marathon this Spring?AC: Not so much the physical, it was more the mental. To go on a twelve week program takes a lot of work, mental work. Emotionally it would have pushed me over the edge and I would not have prepared so well for this race. For the last three years I have been running a marathon once every six months, I really felt I needed a break, get back to cross country and run well (he won the nationals),and then do the track (where he was one of America's top 10,000 performers for 2007).

RW: You have formed a training group in Boulder along with Shayne, what was the initial plan of that?AC: Well support really. I was needing some extra support really, people just to meet with. And as a result this build up has been really really good. I've had Steve Jones (former World record holder) there at every workout, and instead of hammering the last few workouts have had the confidence to take it easy and coast in.

RW: Do you feel any extra pressure as you won in 2004?AC: Actually less pressure, you know guys like Meb and I we have done it, I think a lot of the younger guys are the ones who feel they have something to prove. Those who have not made an Olympic team will have the pressure.

RW: You mention your build up in 2004 was less than ideal, how good has this year been?AC: I could not have done anything better, the mileage, the speed, the weather even!

RW: Do you have a tactic coming in?AC: I will be assessing whilst I am running. I will think it out

RW: There has been a lot of razzmatazz around this race, is it more exciting than in 2004?AC: definitely! It feels like we are running the NYC Marathon. Birmingham was really secluded, like a cross-country type nationals.

RW: Is the excitement still there for you lining up on Saturday? Many people have been referring to you and Khalid (Khannouchi) as the old men of the field, perhaps they don't know Paul Tergat was older than you when he set the world record, and Carlos Lopes when he won Olympic Gold!AC: I feel great, I am excited to go. It is exciting to be on the short list of winning this race. As long as your training is appropriate and you are motivated... I mean the press make those mistakes but those guys (waves to Ritz, Ryan and Abdi) are not thinking that, they know. That mistake is a common sentiment.

RW: How is Shayne?AC: Well in September she had a disappointing race, she knew something was not right, she came back and discovered... we're having our third child in early May!

RW: Earlier you mentioned Steve, and how is Steve Jones doing, does he coach you?AC: I still do the coaching, writing out the schedules, he's helping a lot doing the grunt work!